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HDGoose · 10-22-2020, 01:19 PM

I have only done it 3 times now, but getting used to the new truck is painful to watch. I had a 2013 Ram 2500 short bed and I could back my trailer fine. The new 2020 RAM 3500 long bed, well, not so much. I didn't think it would be that much different, but it appears so. I am backing into a 10 foot wide rv pad on my property. And it is a two lane road.

I have done what I did when the rig was new with the other truck, and watched more videos. I will try a couple of things differently next time. And may just take it out this weekend to an empty lot to practice. I under estimated the difference 2 feet of truck makes.

I just thought I'd share in case someone else will go through this. I was pretty good with the old truck. Just need to get there with the new truck without having a heart attack.

450Donn · 10-22-2020, 01:31 PM

Just takes a little practice. Have not owned a short bed truck since I bought a Dodge D100 back in the 70s. I just spend a Sarurday teaching a gal who had never owned or towed how to bqck up her brand new 42 foot toy hauler with her crew cab long bed Ram dually. The hardest thing to teach is how soon to start following the trailer. There is a difference for sure. But with a bit of practice you should be able to jack knife it into almost any place.

GuyG · 10-22-2020, 01:36 PM

You'll get there, HDGoose. Backing slowly is good. Time is your friend.

Old-Biscuit · 10-22-2020, 01:53 PM

Are you approaching from passenger side (blind side) or from Drivers side?

Approach close to edge of road then when front tires of 5vr meet side of driveway turn truck away at 45* angle then when rear of 5vr meets edge of driveway straight truck out
*easier if approaching from drivers side --that way you can WATCH 5vr tires as you backin

Long bed........5vr will react SLOW at first then quicker as it begins to turn

SWOOP Method
Approach

Turn away

Straighten truck out...set up for backing in

HDGoose · 10-22-2020, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Are you approaching from passenger side (blind side) or from Drivers side?

Approach close to edge of road then when front tires of 5vr meet side of driveway turn truck away at 45* angle then when rear of 5vr meets edge of driveway straight truck out
*easier if approaching from drivers side --that way you can WATCH 5vr tires as you backin

Long bed........5vr will react SLOW at first then quicker as it begins to turn

SWOOP Method
Approach

Turn away

Straighten truck out...set up for backing in

I usually do it from the passenger side with the shorter 2500, I didn't need to do the angle. I had enough space to back it when parallel to the road edge. I will do the angle method next time. I had already found those helpful hints from google. Thanks!

tuffr2 · 10-22-2020, 04:06 PM

Backing a 5th wheel I was really surprised buy how much room the truck needs. To get the 5th wheel in my old driveway I had to take the truck up onto the across the street grass between the sidewalk and the street.

I had F-450 that could turn shaper. But still I needed a lot of room to swing the truck where it needed to be.

jimcumminsw · 10-22-2020, 06:23 PM

It is not a short bed truck or a long bed truck that makes a difference in backing up any trailer! It is the wheel base of the truck that matters. I have a short bed truck, a Dodge Mega Cab with a wheel base of 160.5". This truck has a longer wheel base than a Dodge Regular Cab Long Bed truck which has a 140.5" So, what I look at is wheel base when picking a truck.

I find the best way is always position the trailer in the same point, so many feet from the pad that I want to put the trailer on. Start out really slow and turn the steering wheel sharply to the left, hand placed at the 6 o'clock position. Once the trailer starts to turn start chasing the trailer with the tow vehicle. You may need to pull forward and straighten out the truck and trailer, doing this a couple of times. This works for me.

HDGoose · 10-22-2020, 11:13 PM

The difference between my new truck and my old truck is the truck bed. I had a 2913 RAM 2500 crew cab short bed. I am w have a 2020 RAM 3500 crew cab long bed dually. So for this instance the bed length is the difference.

Piros1 · 10-23-2020, 06:38 AM

Longer bed with same cab design creates a longer wheelbase is what he was getting at.

Skilletface · 10-23-2020, 07:04 AM

Old-Biscut provided some great illustrations. Since the wheel base of your TV has changed all you need to work on is ether start your turns a little sooner and start coming out of your turn sooner. The only advise I can add is, keep the vehicle moving (maybe just above idle) so you can see the reaction of your turn quickly, its always better to make a lot of small wheel corrections while backing and always pull up and take another bit at the space if you need to.

Xmcdog · 10-23-2020, 07:13 AM

As usual Old Biscuit, (love to know how he came up with that name, grin) has nailed it.
Just to add something for the new to trailer folks. When backing put one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, then push in the direction you wish the trailer to go. Easy. Works with any type, even a semi rig.

The big issue with a longer truck is the longer time for the trailer to react.

jimcumminsw · 10-23-2020, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDGoose

The difference between my new truck and my old truck is the truck bed. I had a 2913 RAM 2500 crew cab short bed. I am w have a 2020 RAM 3500 crew cab long bed dually. So for this instance the bed length is the difference.

What is the wheelbase of your trucks?

That's what matters at least it did when I was designing heavy equipment machines! Unless some changed since I retired and I am not aware of the change!

Old-Biscuit · 10-23-2020, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xmcdog

As usual Old Biscuit, (love to know how he came up with that name, grin) has nailed it.
Just to add something for the new to trailer folks. When backing put one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, then push in the direction you wish the trailer to go. Easy. Works with any type, even a semi rig.

The big issue with a longer truck is the longer time for the trailer to react.

Hardtack was my Cowboy Action Shooting handle
Old Biscuit is a play off of that

tuffr2 · 10-23-2020, 05:08 PM

Wheelbase - I had a F-450 with a wheelbase of 172" and 8' bed. I now have a F-250 160" wheelbase and 6.5' bed.

The F-450 was easier to park, and better to back a 5th wheel strictly because I could turn the steering wheels at a much sharper angle.

At the end of my street there is a small turnaround - the F-450 could make while my shorter wheelbase F-250 can not. O have to back the F-250 to complete the turn.

My point - wheelbase is not always the factor.